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News and Results

Borders Wide News

Active Schools work across the whole of the Borders and occasionally brings together all cluster areas to take part in Border programmes, festivals and competitions. This section will detail all the Border Wide news and events from Active Schools.

For more information about events in your area click on the Active Schools in Your Area section.

Champions in Schools is back for 2010/11

After a successful first year of Champions in School, Active School have provided funding for the project to run again this year. The role-model programme, which is delivered by Winning Scotland Foundation, places Scotland’s high performing athletes in the classroom to deliver a series of inspirational workshops. These workshops encourage pupils to set and achieve personal goals, pursue a healthy and active lifestyle, appreciate the value of hard work and adopt a positive, winning attitude.

Through their own personal example, the champions demonstrate to pupils that striving to reach their ambitions and making positive lifestyle choices can produce spectacular rewards. Within each cluster a champion will be visiting a primary school on three occasions throughout the year.

This year the champions visiting each cluster area are as follows:

Sarah Clark	Judo	Reston PS
Euan Dale	Swimming	Chirnside PS
Ross Ford	Rugby	Ednam PS, Kelso
Janet Jack	Hockey	Ancrum PS, Jedburgh
Chris Paterson	Rugby	Channelkirk PS, Earlston
Janet Jack	Hockey	Philiphaugh CS, Selkirk
John Collins	Football	Balmoral PS, Gala
Libby Clegg	Paralympic Runner	Newcastleton PS, Hawick
Sarah Clark	Judo	Broughton/Newlands Peebles

Border Secondary Pupils Leading the way to 2012

The Young Ambassador programme is UK wide and was initiated as a result of the promise London made to the world when theywon the right to host the Olympic and Paralympic games; to use the power of the Games to inspire millions of young people to choose sport.

This year with the support of Active Schools, Youth Sports Trust, new sponsors Adidas and the secondary schools, the programme has expanded to an additional 7 schools. Each o the schools has recruited 2 representatives to act as Adistar Ambassador to take forward the initiative within their school and local community.

The newly recruited Adistars attended a training conference to learn more about their role on Friday 2nd October. Former Olympic hammer thrower, Shirley Webb attended the training conference as a guest speaker and worked with the young people throughout the day. The conference was planned and lead by the Border Platinum Ambassadors from Kelso High School. Platinum is the highest level of ambassador and they will be acting as mentors and managing the 16 Adistars all working to create a legacy for London 2012.

To find out who the Adistar Ambassadors are in your area and what they have been up to, visit the Young Ambassador pages.

Active Schools Celebrate first year of Champions in Schools

On Tuesday 11th May at Galashiels Volunteer Hall sporting champions including; Former Celtic FC & Scotland footballer John Collins, 100-cap Scottish rugby internationalist Chris Paterson, Olympic swimmer Euan Dale, GB hockey star Janet Jack, Olympic hammer thrower Shirley Webb, British & Irish Lion Ross Ford and European judo champion Sarah Clark, joined school-pupils, parents and teachers from across the region, as the Scottish Borders Active Schools Network celebrates the first anniversary of the Champions in Schools programme in partnership with the business-led charity, Winning Scotland Foundation and Scotch Beef (Quality Meat Scotland).

Pupils from Kirkhope, Broomlands and Gordon Primary Schools, Galashiels Academy and several other Borders schools joined their teachers to showcase through brief presentations what they have learned from the role model led workshop and fun-filled activity sessions. The sporting champions also took part in the Champions’ Panel discussion where audience members will be invited to ask questions.

Reflecting the Foundation’s vision to encourage more Scots to adopt a positive winning attitude in sport and life, hundreds of children from 12 Borders schools who over the past academic year have been inspired, educated and motivated by the likes of Collins and Paterson to set and achieve goals, be more active, adopt a balanced diet and enjoy an all-round healthy lifestyle.

Over three separate visits to each school, the champions have built a rapport with a targeted group of 20-30 children, sharing a belief that the adoption of a positive, winning attitude offers long-term benefits on and off the sports field. Some quotes from teachers and pupils included:

“Having an Olympic judo athlete working with pupils in the school has really motivated and inspired pupils"	“We have used the Champions workshop topics and continued the themes into our class work”
"what better way to inspire future generations than bringing in their sporting heroes"	“Ross's sessions really appeared to have an impact on the kids lifestyle outside school, with many starting up new activities and eating much more healthy.”
“John Collins has given his all to his work with the students and his enthusiasm and charisma is inspiring.”	“You need hard work and determination to succeed, talent is not enough”

Check out more pictures of the event and the Champions in action in the Active Schools Gallery.

Active Schools needs you!

Active Schools are looking to start up a variety of new after school clubs in local areas for young children. Active Schools needs volunteers to run these clubs, without volunteer support clubs can not start. If you are interested in trying something new and learning some new skills Active Schools can give you the opportunity.

The spring and summer term is filled with training opportunities for volunteers to learn how to lead and deliver a variety of sports and activities. Download the Training Programme and dates from the Active Schools Volunteering Pages.

Active Schools have a variety of resources to support volunteers and all volunteers will be fully supported into a club by Active Schools.

If you think you would like to volunteer for Active Schools or have any queries regarding Active Schools then please don’t hesitate to contact us.

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